Two arrested after vehicle crashes into Thomasville Exxon

The Crossroads Exxon on Blair Street was heavily damaged Thursday morning after a vehicle crashed and then fled the scene. Bob Burchfield, of High Point-based Protection Systems, is shown securing wiring for the store's alarm system.

Published: Thursday, June 26, 2014 at 11:36 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, June 26, 2014 at 11:36 p.m.

THOMASVILLE | Two men wanted for crashing a vehicle into the Crossroads Exxon at 1301 Blair St. were taken into custody late Thursday evening in High Point.

High Point Police assisted Thomasville Police with the arrests of 41-year-old James Arvil Shoun of 401 Lake Drive in Archdale and 45-year-old Kevin Douglas Cranford of 2592 Johnsontown Road in Thomasville. According to a news release, Thomasville Police received a community tip that the Nissan Pathfinder used in the early Thursday morning break-in of the Exxon was parked behind a business near the intersection of Boyer Street and West English Road.

Upon locating the vehicle, Thomasville detectives canvassed the area and learned of a possible location of the two men. High Point Police were able to take Shoun and Cranford into custody without incident in the 2000 block of West English Road.

They were then transported to the Thomasville Police Department for processing before being placed in the Davidson County Detention Center. Shoun was charged with felony breaking and entering, felony larceny, injury to real property and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. He also was served with two orders for arrest for failure to appear in court on previous charges. Shoun received a $9,000 secured bond.

Cranford was served with warrants for felony breaking and entering, felony larceny, injury to real property and misdemeanor larceny. He received a $5,000 secured bond.

The TPD stated in a news release earlier in the day the suspects were believed to be in a gray 2001 Nissan Pathfinder with an unknown fictitious registration plate. The Pathfinder will be missing the rear bumper and also has damage to the left, rear quarter panel.

“Upon viewing the surveillance footage, we learned that some of our patrol officers have had previous interactions with the Nissan Pathfinder,” Thomasville Police Det. Ross Conover stated in a news release. “We were able to take that information and identify James Shoun Jr. and Kevin Cranford.”

Tabetha DeLapp, database coordinator for Davidson County 911, said her center received a call from the alarm company, High Point-based Protection Systems, at 2:27 a.m. Thomasville Police officers arrived and found a vehicle had crashed into the business prior to fleeing the scene.

The business was closed at the time, and there were no injuries, DeLapp said. According to the news release, video surveillance showed a Nissan Pathfinder backed into the front doors of the business. The video showed a male driver and a male passenger.

“Once inside the business, both males jumped out and took tobacco products,” the news release stated. “Upon leaving, the rear bumper was torn off and left at the business.”

Crossroads Exxon operator Sam Butt described the scene as a “tornado.” Coolers at the front of the store were pushed toward the center of the building, and a counter about 12 feet away from the front of the store was struck. Butt was forced to throw away a lot of merchandise after the incident.

“They just came in and they pulled back,” he said. “He left the … bumper (in the store).”

Butt said he'd be unable to operate his deli Thursday because the store was without a front door. He was making plans to make the repairs on the building, which is insured. Butt, who noted there is structural damage, was trying to find out how much total damage his business sustained.

He turned over surveillance video to the Thomasville Police Department. Butt was unable to watch it because a monitor was broken in the incident.

The business would remain open, Butt said. Harold Kennedy, owner of Rex Oil Co., said it wasn't the first time a vehicle has crashed into the store.

Bob Burchfield, sales representative for Protection Systems, was at the store securing wiring for the alarm system. “You never know if it's drugs or alcohol, but I believe it's one of them,” he said.

Customers throughout the morning were asking questions on what happened to the store. Dale Leonard of Thomasville pulled up and immediately thought someone tried to break into the building. He said he wasn't surprised because of the happenings in today's society.

Meanwhile, Shoun and Cranford both have court dates on July 23.

Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 217, or darrick.ignasiak@the-dispatch.com. Follow Darrick on Twitter: @DispatchDarrick

<p>THOMASVILLE | Two men wanted for crashing a vehicle into the Crossroads Exxon at 1301 Blair St. were taken into custody late Thursday evening in High Point.</p><p>High Point Police assisted Thomasville Police with the arrests of 41-year-old James Arvil Shoun of 401 Lake Drive in Archdale and 45-year-old Kevin Douglas Cranford of 2592 Johnsontown Road in Thomasville. According to a news release, Thomasville Police received a community tip that the Nissan Pathfinder used in the early Thursday morning break-in of the Exxon was parked behind a business near the intersection of Boyer Street and West English Road.</p><p>Upon locating the vehicle, Thomasville detectives canvassed the area and learned of a possible location of the two men. High Point Police were able to take Shoun and Cranford into custody without incident in the 2000 block of West English Road.</p><p>They were then transported to the Thomasville Police Department for processing before being placed in the Davidson County Detention Center. Shoun was charged with felony breaking and entering, felony larceny, injury to real property and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. He also was served with two orders for arrest for failure to appear in court on previous charges. Shoun received a $9,000 secured bond.</p><p>Cranford was served with warrants for felony breaking and entering, felony larceny, injury to real property and misdemeanor larceny. He received a $5,000 secured bond.</p><p>The TPD stated in a news release earlier in the day the suspects were believed to be in a gray 2001 Nissan Pathfinder with an unknown fictitious registration plate. The Pathfinder will be missing the rear bumper and also has damage to the left, rear quarter panel.</p><p>“Upon viewing the surveillance footage, we learned that some of our patrol officers have had previous interactions with the Nissan Pathfinder,” Thomasville Police Det. Ross Conover stated in a news release. “We were able to take that information and identify James Shoun Jr. and Kevin Cranford.”</p><p>Tabetha DeLapp, database coordinator for Davidson County 911, said her center received a call from the alarm company, High Point-based Protection Systems, at 2:27 a.m. Thomasville Police officers arrived and found a vehicle had crashed into the business prior to fleeing the scene.</p><p>The business was closed at the time, and there were no injuries, DeLapp said. According to the news release, video surveillance showed a Nissan Pathfinder backed into the front doors of the business. The video showed a male driver and a male passenger.</p><p>“Once inside the business, both males jumped out and took tobacco products,” the news release stated. “Upon leaving, the rear bumper was torn off and left at the business.”</p><p>Crossroads Exxon operator Sam Butt described the scene as a “tornado.” Coolers at the front of the store were pushed toward the center of the building, and a counter about 12 feet away from the front of the store was struck. Butt was forced to throw away a lot of merchandise after the incident.</p><p>“They just came in and they pulled back,” he said. “He left the … bumper (in the store).”</p><p>Butt said he'd be unable to operate his deli Thursday because the store was without a front door. He was making plans to make the repairs on the building, which is insured. Butt, who noted there is structural damage, was trying to find out how much total damage his business sustained.</p><p>He turned over surveillance video to the Thomasville Police Department. Butt was unable to watch it because a monitor was broken in the incident.</p><p>The business would remain open, Butt said. Harold Kennedy, owner of Rex Oil Co., said it wasn't the first time a vehicle has crashed into the store.</p><p>Bob Burchfield, sales representative for Protection Systems, was at the store securing wiring for the alarm system. “You never know if it's drugs or alcohol, but I believe it's one of them,” he said.</p><p>Customers throughout the morning were asking questions on what happened to the store. Dale Leonard of Thomasville pulled up and immediately thought someone tried to break into the building. He said he wasn't surprised because of the happenings in today's society.</p><p>Meanwhile, Shoun and Cranford both have court dates on July 23.</p><p>Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 217, or darrick.ignasiak@the-dispatch.com. Follow Darrick on Twitter: @DispatchDarrick</p>